YMCA Celebrates Champions with Coach Jim Calhoun raises more than $140,000

More than $140,000 was raised last week at YMCA Celebrates Champions, helping to make the YMCA’s innovative and life-changing programs and services accessible to youth, families, and adults regardless of their ability to pay. Keynote speaker Jim Calhoun addressed a crowd of over 300 people and Fox 61’s Tim Lammers emceed the event and kept the bidding high during the night’s live auction and paddle raise—which raised funds for Y memberships, participation in the YMCA’s LIVESTRONG cancer survivors program, residential camping experiences, and water safety programming for young people.

YMCA President and CEO Harold Sparrow presented awards to three YMCA Champions embody the Y’s pillars: Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility.

Honored during the event were:

Theus McBee for Youth Development. McBee is a graduate of the YMCA’s Y-Achievers Program and the University of Connecticut, and now works for the National Basketball Association.

Alicia Unger for Healthy Living: Unger is a volunteer with the YMCA’s LIVESTRONG cancer survivor program. A survivor herself, she now gives her time to help others recovering from cancer treatment.

The Newell D. Hale Foundation for Social Responsibility: The Foundation led efforts to fundraise and build community support for the new Hale Family YMCA Youth & Family Center in Putnam.

Pictured at YMCA Celebrates Champions are Natalie Zembrzuski, director of special events for the YMCA of Greater Hartford, Coach Jim Calhoun, Harold Sparrow, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Hartford; and event chair John Byrnes, chairman of RC Knox/ Peoples United Insurance Agency and a member and past chair of the Board of Directors of the YMCA of Greater Hartford.